Nakskov family turns Halloween garden into fundraiser for children with cancer

A family in Nakskov is opening its Halloween-decorated garden to raise money for the Danish Children’s Cancer Foundation, DR reports. The tradition took on added meaning after Marianne Løvenskjold Schoppe and her family lost their nine-year-old daughter, Natalie, to a brain tumour this spring.

Natalie had wanted the garden to be decorated, even after she became ill. The family has collected donations there since she was diagnosed, raising about 16,000 kroner last year.

The foundation also supported the family during Natalie’s illness, including by providing grants for psychological help for all three children. Løvenskjold Schoppe said the support meant the family did not have to pay for that help themselves.

The garden features skeletons, pumpkins, witches’ cauldrons and homemade monsters. One large spider, made by the family from expanding foam, plastic pipes and spray paint, sits on a hay bale. It takes about two weeks to prepare the garden, in addition to the time spent making decorations.

Løvenskjold Schoppe has also been diagnosed with cancer, and medication makes it difficult for her to stand for long periods. Her husband, Sylvester, has taken on more of the decorating this year. The family hoped to welcome 300 children on Halloween night and said they would continue decorating for cancer-related fundraising for as long as they could and wanted to.